West End Live 2013

It was that time of the year again, it was time for West End Live 2013.

I have to admit I had been a bit unsure of the line up for the Sunday this year as it was mainly children based shows but in the end it turned out to be an amazing day, due to the announcement of Matthew Morrison turning up to do yet another CD Signing! Though the day did not begin till midday, we arrived two hours early to queue up in order to get our usual spot by the fountain and to be guaranteed we would get in as it had been fully packed the day before and we did not want to risk not meeting the Matthew again! We were also joined by Lauren, someone who I met through twitter and had also been at the show on Thursday!

The show began at midday with an always performance from the show Stomp. It was followed, a twice performed number by The Lion King, which had major technical difficulties. It was followed by firm fan favourite, Matilda, which Rachael is still bugging me about booking tickets for. Next up was The Gruffalo, which I have to admit I am definitely intrigued by and it looks it could make the transfer to stage quite well. It was followed by Everything's Rosie, something that keep everyone happy, just due to the song "Walking on Sunshine" being played. Next up was Let it Be, which I was highly impressed by and Rachael was not, until they played a song she actually knew and liked. Finally it was Thriller Live, as action packed and exciting as always. They were loads more acts but missed them due to what came next.

It was time for an interview with Matthew Morrison, which sent most of the crowd crazy! It was made even better by the fact that he hinted that he was considering doing a show in the West End Live (which is now backed up by rumours that he is in talks with a producer to do so) and that he was coming back to the UK next year (June 2014, I cannot wait). At which point, it was announced he would signing CDs in the TKTS Tent, which made me, Lauren and Rachael run across to get in line. Though it was a few minutes before he moved as he stopped to watch a performance from Billy Elliot, which is always worth a watch due to the amazing talented cast it has.

When he approached the tent, it obviously spotted me because when I turned round to see him walking over, he touched my arm and gave me a big smile, so which made me happy to know he still remembered me, despite the number of fans he had met over the past few days. Even better was when we approached the table and he said to Rachael, "There you are!" as he remembered her from Friday, but then again how can anyone forget her, she is just so cute! As I had already had his new album signed twice, I got his first album signed and told him it was shame he had been unable to perform today and I was happy that I had got to see his show on Thursday! Unfortunately we had been told no posed photos, so we said goodbye to him and left the tent. Well it turned out, he did not mind the posed photos despite the time constraints, which actually peeved me off. So I cheekily grabbed a photo with him as he was leaving to get in his car to go off to whatever was next on schedule. It probably helped that I had met a few times as he may not have stopped otherwise, so I do thank him for that, even though it was not a great photo of me!

Next year, I intend on going on both days, cos most of the musicals I love or I want to see were on the Saturday this year and I missed out on being able to go. So my plan for next year is to go both days, get there early, get a good spot and perhaps even bring a step stool!

Matthew Morrison, CD Signing London - June 2013

So like I said in my previous blog, I had plans to attend the CD Signing, which was today (21/6/13) at HMV Oxford Street in London. Rachael had not been able to attend the show for two reasons; first, no under 14's were allowed (she's nine) and secondly, even she was old enough, I could not afford two tickets!

I had already agreed to support my disabled friend, Tim, while we in there, taking his photo and whatever else he needed while we were meeting Matt. So luckily, it meant there was no need to rush up to London for once, as we would be the first to meet Matthew! So we met Tim at Oxford Circus and went for something to eat until it was time to head to HMV, where we found a much shorter queue than we were expecting and a few other disabled fans, some of whom Tim already knew (is there anyone you don't know Tim??).

Matthew came out to see the disabled fans before he headed up to the stage where the main signing takes place. He was just as lovely as he was the night before and remembered me and Tim. He was also very lovely to Rachael, taking the time to check the spelling of her name and telling her he liked her dress she was wearing even though it was her summer school uniform. Even better though was that he got down onto a bended knee when he had his photo taken with Rachael, which I know made her very happy!

Matthew Morrison is most definitely one of the nicest and generous celebrities I have ever met!

Matthew Morrison - Singin' In the Rain - June 2013

Matthew Morrison, Bush Hall London - 20th June 2013

Last Wednesday morning I got sent a link for a ticketing website. Matthew Morrison was coming to the UK to promote his latest album and he was playing an intimate show at Bush Hall in London. I knew I had to go especially when the ticket prices were so reasonable. Even more so, thanks to my best friend, Emma and her husband, Dan, I was able to book for VIP as I had a £30 gift voucher to use on Ticketmaster! (Still cannot stop thanking them for it!)

The day arrived and I spent all day watching the clock, desperate to set out for the venue! It felt like it went so slowly that when it got to half two, I could wait no longer! Before heading to the venue, I shot up to Oxford Street, picked up a copy of his album, shot round to Piccadilly Circus to capture my photo for photography challenge and then jumped on a tube and headed over to the venue. I ended being the first one there, despite expecting to find a good twenty odd people there already. So I went off for a walk, discovered where Loftus Road was and came back to find three ladies who I recognise, had turned up. Turned out they had also been at the Oliviers, one of whom just happened to work at local train station! Spent the next three hours chatting with them until the doors open, which definitely made the time go faster!

Finally it was time to go in and I nearly missed out on front row seats because the lady who was checking us off the list as we entered forgot to give me my wristband. But it turned out to be a blessing as I ended sitting next to a guy who attends the same conventions as me! I was position just to the right of the centre, so I did not need to worry about he dreaded microphone stand being in the way all of the time. Before Matthew came on, we got to see a new up and coming artist, Matt Wills perform. He is extremely talented, got a James Arthur vibe off him and he did very well making every one laugh and enjoy themselves, considering we could have been a hostile crowd as we were there for Matthew and not him.

Finally, it was time for the man we had come to see, with fabulous intro music from Brad Ellis and band! Matthew was swearing, making jokes and drinking on stage and it just felt more relaxed than his previous show. It felt more like him, that he could be himself, which I think all the fans absolutely loved. I know I did. Favourite moments included a West Side Story Medley, which I nicknamed "How to do West Side Story in Two Minutes" and Singin' in the Rain. Very happy as well that Matt looked my way and gave me a smile during the performance!

After the show, it was time for the Meet and Greet, which took place in the Terrace Bar upstairs. I was so excited and nervous to meet him, that when it came to my turn, I could barely get my words out. But Matthew was so lovely, he introduced himself, shook my hand and asked my name, even checking how to spell when signing my album. I manage to tell I was coming to the CD signing the next day, just so my daughter could meet him! He was great in the photos, getting up close with each fan to give them the best photo he could. Admittedly, I was not completely happy with my photo cos my stomach looked awful! While waiting for a friend outside the venue, I also got to meet Brad Ellis, the piano player on Glee. He was so lovely to talk to as was his wife! Though I was idiot who chose a song that I love that was not even arranged by him!

Chris Colfer Book Signing - 16th June 2013

Up until yesterday, Rachael and I had been fortunate enough to have to met two cast members of one of our favourite TV show, Glee. Yesterday, we were got to meet a third, the absolutely adorable, Chris Colfer.

This past week has been crazy in terms of the information flying round. No one really knew what was going on. The only thing we had figured out was that was a lot of interest and people were planning to camp out. The scaremongering started Saturday morning when Bluewater Waterstones tweeted a photo of the first person to turn up to camp out. From there, more and more people turned up, that by the time we had got up and ready to go, I actually threatened not to go.

We were very lucky to meet loads of wonderful people, starting at London Bridge where we met the lovely Lauren, who had flown over from Northern Ireland just to attend. It really did help the long wait go so much quicker. We arrived just before 9am and grabbed a ticket, number 437. We were there, we had a number, we were guaranteed to meet him! The next six hours went by so quickly thanks to amazing laughs, chats and fun we were having with the group of people we had met. (I'm sorry I cannot mention you all by name, cos I cannot remember them all and if I did, knowing me, I would forget someone).

Then the time came to meet the man himself. As expected Rachael went completely shy, but Chris was so lovely to her. I bent down next to her, rather than get the photo I had originally promised I would get, and helped through the meeting. Chris asked her name and replied that he was hearing the name Rachael a lot lately when she replied. I took this as my opening to tell we had meet Lea last year, to which he gave us a huge smile. If he said anything else, I honestly cannot remember! But I did managed to throw in that we were looking forward to seeing him in Glee next season. He was definitely worth the 6 hour wait!

Coronation Classics - 2nd June 2013

Having just got back from holiday the day before, I had not expected to find myself back at the Royal Albert Hall for the second time in three months. My in-laws had phone the night before offering me tickets for me and Rachael to attend a concert that would be taking place and that they would now be unable to attend themselves. The concert was Coronation Classics.

Coronation Classics a concert of music to celebrate 60 years since the Queen's Coronation. It featured music which to my surprise I actually knew and this is coming from someone who is not a fan of classical music. The music was a mixture of music from the coronation itself, including Handel's Zadok the Priest and Walton's Crown Imperial; and music which was not. It ended with extremely well known classics, Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia.

It featured the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Royal Choral Society, with featured guest performers, cellist, Julian Lloyd-Webber and Soprano, Ruth Jenkins. The conductor was Anthony Inglis, who really impressed me throughout the concert. He made the effort to engage with the audience, telling us stories about the music itself and encouraging us to join in with the songs at the end, making jokes as he went.

I have to say I really did enjoy myself more than I expected to. It probably helped that I knew the music as well. I enjoyed so much so, that I have promised Rachael that I may just take her to something similar again.